A Lonely Holiday Heart
By: Waterflash
Chapter 2: First Kiss Under the Mistletoe
I've noticed a change in Kenshin over the past few days. Ever since the day I had danced at the shrine, he's seemed to be lost in a reverie. I don't understand why though…
Today, he had been very busy. He left before I had woken up. I asked Sanosuke where he was, but he just told me that Kenshin had gone to river for something. It made me a bit suspicious, but I didn't bother with it anymore.
Yahiko had disappeared along with Sanosuke after that. I didn't like being alone… It was Christmas Eve and they all left! Every Christmas was so silent… There was no warmth that I had felt since my mother and father had died…
My feelings of a Christmas without Kenshin brought me to tears that I thought I had run out of. As I felt something dripping down my cheek, I jumped. It startled me. I traced the path of the tear and the contours of my face and then standing up quickly, rushed out of the shoji door in my room.
My mind had wandered back to Kenshin once more… I couldn't seem to get the sweet, caring, and handsome rurouni out of my head! That's when I got an idea. I could make Christmas cookies! A grin made its way onto my face.
"They'll be so good! Kenshin will love them!" I squealed …WAIT! Hold on ONE second! I'm doing this for everyone. Not my Kenshin! My Kenshin? Did I just call him that? I could just imagine my face. "Good thing no one is here…"
I went into the kitchen and lifted up a floorboard. Underneath, I fished around for a small green box. "Here we go!" I opened the box to find recipe cards that my mother had made. Skimming through the recipes, I finally found it. "Sugar cookies! All the ingredients are basic so we have them here!"
I read it out loud, making sure of what I had to get. "2 ¾ cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¾ cups of butter, 1 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 2 eggs. And the milk glaze… ½ cup confectioners sugar, add hot milk, and ¼ tablespoon vanilla." Grabbing all those ingredients, I placed them gently on the table.
"And then I'll need two bowls and a whisk." I said, while pulling out two large white bowls and a metal whisk.
"Okay. Let's see… Cream together the ¾ cup of butter, 1 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 eggs." Throwing everything in the bowl with a whisk in hand, I began to mix it wildly. I didn't even pay attention that I was biting my tongue that might have been hanging out of my mouth but I couldn't be sure.
After doing that for about ten minutes, I stopped and looked at the recipe. "Mix together with 2 ¾ cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt." I took the now creamy mixture and poured in the flour, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon in it.
I began to mix it just as I had before, but I found it harder this time because it was turning into… "Mush! Am I doing this right?" I questioned myself. After awhile, it didn't seem to look like mush. My face split into a smile.
"Now I have to chill the dough for one hour." I wrapped the dough with plastic and placed it in a shadowy corner with ice on it. (AN: Oh, like I know what they used for a fridge…)
*One hour later…*
After an hour of waiting and borrowed patience, I ran over to the dough and unwrapped it. "Roll on flowered surface and cut into shapes." I bit my bottom lip. "I don't have a rolling pin…" I searched around the room and something stuck out in the corner of my eye.
"MY BOKKEN!" I shouted. It was a brilliant idea! I could use my bokken to roll out the dough! I sprinkled flour all over the table and set the dough on it. Pressing the bokken on it, I moved it back and forth, flattening the dough. I used a knife to cut out shapes. A few of a Christmas tree, a few of holly, a few of a wreath, and one of a heart.
"Now I'll put it above the fire…" I took the cut pieces and placed them on a greased pan and placed them above the fire.
I waited…
And waited…
And waited…
And when I saw flames,
"Oh… shit…"
I ran over and fanned the smoke, and grabbed the handle of the pan. Or…what I thought was the handle. "ITAI!!!!!" I screamed, flinging the pan in the air, scattering all the cookies in the air.
"Oh no!" I jumped, catching two charred cookies and one that appeared to be perfectly fine. I smiled because it was the heart cookie I had wanted to give to Kenshin.
Taking that heart cookie and completely ignoring the charred pieces of cookies and a pan out in the yard, I made the milk glaze. (AN: See above, because I'm too damn lazy to explain everything now. This is hard work! x.x) I used a small brush to cover the cookie in it.
"Now… for some frosting and sprinkles." I took out some red frosting and began to decorate. I traced the outline of the cookie and almost unconsciously wrote one word, or in other words, a name.
K… E… N…. S… H… I… N…
I grinned at my masterpiece. I held it in my palm, staring at it.
It brought back a question that I had asked myself many times. "Do I really… Love him so?" I whispered. "Everything about him… I love my Kenshin. And I'll tell him. Tonight."
The sudden noise of the gate opening and shutting shook me from my thoughts. "That must be Kenshin!" I rushed outside to greet the rurouni who seemed to have regained all of his pleasantness.
"Kaoru-dono, would you like to go for a walk by the river with sessha?" He asked. I blushed inwardly and smiled.
I nodded. "Just let me get something first." Once out of his sight, I pranced happily to the kitchen to retrieve the cookie I had made for him. Along the way, I sang repeatedly, "Kenshin wants to walk with me." Before I took the cookie, I jumped happily. And then I realized something. "Agh! I probably look like a mess! I brushed off my kimono and my face.
I walked outside to meet Kenshin again that was turned the other way. I seemed to be signaling to… Yahiko and Sanosuke?! Oh whatever… I would worry about it if I weren't about to go on a walk with Kenshin!
Kenshin opened the gate and led me out. How kind of him…He's so polite… And handsome… And s… AH! Mind wandering! I glanced over at Kenshin who seemed to be unusually happy today, considering that the past few days it looked like he was in a trance.
Kenshin turned to face me and stared oddly. It took me a moment to realize that I was staring at him! Ahhhhhh! My cheeks turned a bright shade of red and I looked down at my feet.
"Kaoru-dono… Sessha wanted to speak to you." Kenshin said.
"Y-yes?" I stuttered, trying to hide my fear that he was going to say something bad.
"Sessha watched you dance." He said.
"You… saw me?" I asked. Unknown to him, I felt like I was going to break down and cry.
"Yes. And I thought you were beautiful… Kaoru." I cupped my hand over my mouth and gasped. He had called me Kaoru, not Kaoru-dono. And he didn't say sessha! HE THOUGHT I WAS BEAUTIFUL! Inside I was rejoicing, but on the outside, I just smiled, blushed, and gave a weak "Domo arigato."
"Kaoru… You don't need to be lonely. You have your friends… And me…" Kenshin said. Tears welled up in my eyes as he spoke. "No tears now. You're supposed to be happy." He brushed his hand over my face, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"Don't you see? These are tears of joy." I ran up to him, wrapped my arms around him and buried my face into his neck. At first I felt embarrassed that maybe this close contact wasn't right, but I just gave up because it was just so wonderful.
"Look, you have something in your hair." Kenshin ran his hands through my hair, holding out a small piece of a cookie.
"Oh yes! I almost forgot!" I pulled away from him and handed him the cookie that I had held in my left hand. He smiled, and took it from my palm.
"When did you make this?"
"While you were gone."
I watched intently as he began to eat the cookie. I waited impatiently for him to say something. "This tastes wonderful!" I was so happy that I had finally made something RIGHT for once!
"I think we better be getting back soon." Kenshin said after glancing at the sun.
"Wait."
He turned around to look at me. I shyly gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
On the walk back, I held his hand the whole time.
The dojo was seemingly quiet as we walked in. I was still holding on to Kenshin's hand as if I never wanted to let go. As I slid the shoji door open, a loud yell of "SURPRISE!" scared the daylight out of me.
Everyone was there. I mean EVERYONE. Sanosuke, Yahiko, Megumi, Gensai, Ayame, Suzume, Tae, Tsubame, everyone from the Aoiya, Aoshi, Saito, and Tokio! The whole dojo was decorated with everything Christmas-y. I was downright shocked. It was so wonderful.
"You all… did this?" I asked, trying to breathe normally again.
"Yup!" Misao chirped happily. "I got the message from Himura two days ago. He got the idea to plan the party because you were so down. I told everyone in the Aoiya and even Aoshi-sama to come!"
"Sano and me told everyone around Tokyo that we knew." Yahiko piped in.
"And I got the food, drinks, and all the decorations." Kenshin said.
"From the Akabeko!" Tae called out.
I think I was about to cry again. "Thank you everyone… This is going to be the best Christmas ever!"
"Someone get the sake! Let's get this party started!" Sano shouted.
I leaned against the wall, watching everyone have fun. I think I was having enough fun watching them.
Sanosuke was having a sake drinking contest with Okina. I think Sanosuke was winning because Okina had started to laugh hysterically and suddenly ran off. After a few minutes, he returned, running around in a Santa costume shouting something about reindeer.
The guys from the Aoiya were doing some karaoke. You could tell that they were drunk. Misao was trying to Aoshi to go up, but he refused politely, asking Misao for more tea.
Yahiko was flirting with Tsubame, and failing horribly at that. I'll have to remember to bug him about that later…
Megumi was having fun tormenting Sanosuke. Ah, the ways of a kitsune. Gensai was having some sake while Ayame and Suzume ran around him in circles until he passed out.
Tokio was helping Misao to try and get Aoshi to do something other than drink tea, while Saito watched for amusement purposes.
Where was Kenshin? I looked around, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Misao turned around and must have seen me. "Looking for Himura? I think he's outside. He said he would be back in a minute."
I wasn't in the mood to wait. So I stepped outside to find Kenshin gazing at the stars. "What are you doing out here?" I went around him.
"I always loved watching the stars, ever since I was a child." He smiled. "I want to stay out here a little longer. You should go back inside. It's a bit cold."
"Aw, but can't you keep me warm?" I asked lightheartedly. I wasn't prepared for him to wrap his strong arms around me.
So here I was. On Christmas Eve, locked in the embrace of the one I love most. I was sure that I was the happiest girl ever.
"Just a little longer…" He said into my hair.
After awhile, he smiled, turning to go inside. I whimpered in protest but he continued walking anyway. One we made it back in, there was a bit of chaos, but I could ignore it after what just happened.
It was then I remembered what I was supposed to do. I called out his name. "Kenshin! Come here." He spun around, that cute little expression on his face like always. I felt my hands shake as he came closer.
"Kenshin, I love you!" Everything became silent because of my sudden declaration of love.
"Kaoru… I love you too." I didn't know what to say. I was so incredibly happy, ecstatic at the least.
"Look up." Kenshin said. I peered above us to see mistletoe.
He was growing closer and closer, his feather light breaths caressing my face.
He brushed his thumb across my lips and my face. "Beautiful…You're so beautiful… I've loved you for so long…" And then… He kissed me.
Just the light contact of his lips with mine made my heart sing. His kiss was so chaste, yet I wanted more. I my arms slipped around his neck, his around my waist as our kiss became more passionate. Reluctantly, I pulled away because of the need to breathe.
"My first kiss… Under the mistletoe…" I whispered, touching my fingers to his lips.
"I love you, my Kenshin."
His name sounds so sweet on my tongue… Like honey…
Everyone just suddenly started chattering loudly about what had just happened. It was getting chaotic again, so I decided to go into Kenshin's room. I signaled for him to follow me and we shut the door. (AN: HEY HEY HEY! THIS IS A CHRISTMAS STORY!)
We cuddled for about an hour until Kenshin fell asleep.
Then a mischievous thought made it's way into my head.
In the morning I heard a loud "ORO!!" and a crash. I yawned and stretched my arms behind me.
Yup… Kenshin looks sexy in a Santa costume…
The End
Whew! So how did everyone like it? I finally finished this thing! Yay! B-chan, I hope you liked it!
A few side notes: That was ACTUALLY a real sugar cookie recipe. I had to change a few things to make it sound right, but yeah that was a real recipe. If anyone wants it, just email me and I'll send it to you.
I think I screwed some things up… But what do you expect? Half of this fic was written at night in the dark!
By the way, what happened at the end was that Kaoru dressed Kenshin up like Santa Claus and put him on the roof. When he woke up, he fell down the chimney. I hope that makes sense… ^_^;;;
Hopefully that was enough fluff and humor! I really loved writing the scene with the mistletoe and the part outside. ^_^ Okay, I better get this posted soon!
And Merry Christmas from all my split personalities and Kenshin Claus! ^_^
Please review!